NOTEBOOK: Lions' outlook seems healthy
Young players give them hope for '05
January 3, 2005
BY CURT SYLVESTER
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Twenty minutes -- that's all it took. Maybe not even that long.
By the time the Lions got back to the locker room from their 24-19 loss to Tennessee in the season finale, coach Steve Mariucci had switched their focus from the failures of 2004 to the possibilities of 2005.
"There's all kinds of hope for next year," Mariucci said. "I can't wait to start next year. I wish that it would start tomorrow.
"There's so much more out there for these guys. They just really skimmed the surface. I'm looking at our youngsters -- my first and second years of drafting. They have played so much football and we're going to benefit from that.
"I can't wait till they become experienced players, because then they'll be consistent. They'll make plays all over the place. They'll be able to take charge of a game rather than get their feet wet.
"The hope is there, we're anxious to get there. There's going to be a lot of work to do -- yes -- but when we get it done, it'll be a lot of fun."
Although the Lions' 6-10 record was a step up from last year's 5-11, no one was selling it as the kind of improvement they needed or wanted to make a meaningful step toward competing for an NFC North title.
What Mariucci was selling -- and his players apparently were buying -- was the idea that all of this year's young players have the potential to take the team to bigger and better things.
"Even though we didn't make the playoffs and we didn't finish the way we wanted to, it's still one more win than we had last year," cornerback Dré Bly said. "I feel like with Coach coming in, we can expect a fast turnaround.
"I think with guys coming back healthy next year -- having a healthy Charles Rogers and K.J. (Kevin Jones) from the first game, having a healthy Roy Williams for 16 games -- we'll be a better football team.
"I'm going to just look forward to next year and really dedicate myself this off-season to try to get some of the guys going, to compete and get better. Hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes because next year will be big for this organization."